Title: Broken Search Function
Last modified: May 13, 2024

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# Broken Search Function

 *  Resolved [mprovencher](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mprovencher/)
 * (@mprovencher)
 * [2 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/broken-search-function/)
 * The search feature on our website is broken and we’ve confirmed it is because
   of the Anti-spam CleanTalk plugin. Is there a way to exclude the search field
   from the spam protection? When you type in the search and hit enter, the system
   just searches for a blank string. I’ve tried adding the exclusion on the Field
   Name, and the URL exclusion isn’t helpful because the search box part of the 
   navigation across all pages. The plugin is up-to-date as of May 13, 2024.
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fbroken-search-function%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  [SergeM](https://wordpress.org/support/users/serge00/)
 * (@serge00)
 * [2 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/broken-search-function/#post-17751583)
 * Hello [@mprovencher](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mprovencher/),
    - WordPress Admin Page → Settings → Anti-Spam by CleanTalk → Advanced settings
      → set the option “Test default WordPress search form for spam” to “Off” → 
      Save Changes.
 * Then clear your website cache. Did it help you?
 * Also, could you send us your webserver error log? It could be found in your hosting
   account.
   You can send the log either via email:[support@cleantalk.org](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/broken-search-function/support@cleantalk.org?output_format=md)
   Or create a private ticket:[https://cleantalk.org/my/support/open](https://cleantalk.org/my/support/open)
 *  Thread Starter [mprovencher](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mprovencher/)
 * (@mprovencher)
 * [1 year, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/broken-search-function/#post-17760281)
 * Thank you, SergeM. Unfortunately, I had already looked through the Advanced Settings
   and attempted your suggestion (with no success). I deactivated the Antispam plugin
   and our search function started working properly again. 
   I’ve created a private
   ticket. Thank you!
 *  Plugin Support [sergecleantalk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sergecleantalk/)
 * (@sergecleantalk)
 * [1 year, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/broken-search-function/#post-17760419)
 * We received your ticket, let’s continue there.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘Broken Search Function’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/cleantalk-spam-protect/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=1637702)
 * [Anti Spam for Contact Forms, Comments & Online Stores - CleanTalk](https://wordpress.org/plugins/cleantalk-spam-protect/)
 * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/cleantalk-spam-protect/#faq)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/cleantalk-spam-protect/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/cleantalk-spam-protect/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/cleantalk-spam-protect/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/cleantalk-spam-protect/reviews/)

## Tags

 * [search function](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/search-function/)

 * 3 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [sergecleantalk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sergecleantalk/)
 * Last activity: [1 year, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/broken-search-function/#post-17760419)
 * Status: resolved